concluding “ gtcyn's grand gamble 99
new inlet was to
create new empire
We have now to take into considera¬
tion the location and the plan of the
dams by which it is proposed to effect
a communication between Albemarle
Sound and the ocean at Nag’s Mead,
by shutting off the waters of Albe¬
marle from those of Pamlico, leading
the former through a channel to be
excavated near the site of the old Inlet
from Roanoke Sound to the sea.
Across Croatan Sound, the most eli¬
gible site for a dam is from Park Point,
on Roanoke Island, to Fleetwood's
Fishery, on the main land. The dis¬
tance is 3 miles; the average depth
of water is 8 1-4 feet, the greatest not
exceeding 13 3-4 feet.
It is shoalcr and better protected by
the projecting points of Roanoke Is¬
land and the main land than any other
line; and between these points and the
embankment, there is an extensive
cove, where the waters of the sound
and sea, coming in conflict, will find a
place of repose and deposit for the
matters they will bring together, giving
thereby strength to the work and purity
to the refluent waters. Across Roanoke
Sound, the selection for the situation
of the dam may be referred to the
causes above recited.
This embankment will cross Herring
Island far enough to the south to em¬
brace any changes that may possibly
take place in the direction of the inlet,
and at a point where it will be best
protected from the agitated water of
the sound.
Between this Island and Roanoke
Island the water is in one place
Ю'/г
feet deep. The length of the water line
is 6,935 feet, the average depth for
645 feet is 8
'/г
feet. For the remainder
of the distance (6,290 feet) the great¬
est depth docs not exceed 6 feet, and
the average is 2 1-4 feet. The length
of the embankment across the Island
and the marshes on the margin of the
sound, will be about one mile.
I propose the following plan of con¬
struction for the dam across Croatan
Sound:
Cribs, 20 feet square, constructed
of round logs not less than one fool
in diameter, with a row of cross logs
in the centre, and to be kept in po¬
sition by five piles on each side. The
cribs to be filled up with earth and
capped with large flat stone 6 feet
above ordinary water, which will place
the top of the embankment beyond the
reach of the greatest elevation of
the waters in the sound. The earth of
the embankment to have a slope of
2 1-2 feet to 1 on the north side and
2 to 1 on the south side, and to be
protected on each shore by slope walls
of stone.
The dam across Roanoke Sound, in
the channels between Roanoke and
I (erring Islands, to consist of cribs 1 8
by 20 feet, made of round logs not less
than a foot in diameter, and sustained
in position by five piles on each side.
Across the channels, between the
Banks and Herring Island, cribs 15 -f-
20 feet, kept in line by a pile on each
side driven in every 5 feel. The whole
capped, as above, with stone, and sus¬
tained on the sides by embankments
of earth, with a slope of 1 to 1, six feet
high, and 10 feet thick at top.
On Herring and Roanoke Islands
and the banks, the dam to be con¬
structed of an embankment of earth
12 feet thick at the base, 4 feet at top,
and 5 feet high. The slopes and lop
to be protected from abrasion and from
washing by a covering of stone, of
which no danger of sinking need be
apprehended, as they will not be dis¬
turbed by the sea. NVc have evidence
of this, in the stones now to be seen,
when the water is calm and clear at
Ballast point, 3 miles above the site
of the dam.
The bottom, as 1 have ascertained
Note: This is the concluding article
in a series digesting the report of
Major Walter Gwyn to the N. C. In¬
ternal Improvement Commission in
1840.
Hero'* the
сиспсс
ot G-yn't sehomo. Smoll
arrows point to location ot dom» which wore to
block Roonoko ond Crooton sound», thu» cutting
off the flow ot wotcr from Albemarle Sound into
Pomlico Sound
Current of the Albemorle then would be
funnelled between Roonokc Island ond Colhng-
ton Island. It would hit the bonks ot obout Nogs
Head (outline arrow», ond would keep open
Roonokc Inlet, which wos to be reopened by
dredging.
by borings in Croatan and Roanoke
Sounds, consists of a mixture of sand
and soil, affording a foundation for
i he dams, and a good consistency in
which to drive piles.
The timbers to be covered in earth:
in which situation they will be en¬
tirely secure from the ravages of the
worm.
It will be necessary to use a dredg¬
ing maching, to remove the deposition
which has taken place in the channel
of Roanoke Sound, since the closing
of the Inlet.
I propose leaving the width of the
inlet to the regulation of the refluent
waters, with a full conviction, from
what has been before stated, that a re¬
vetment of stone will not be necessary,
and that it will not exceed a width
due to a depth of 15 feet; and also,
after designating the site of the inlet,
by excavating the sand for a width of
a mile, and a depth corresponding to
the level (nearly) of low tide, to make
use of the current for its removal —
taking advantage of the greatest ele¬
vation within and depression without.
This, in my opinion, is but a small
amount, compared with the advan¬
tages of the improvement. Indeed, the
THE STATE. November 17. 1956
17
